Author: Chloe Acland

Global mobile telecoms provider Cellhire is delighted to have appointed James Kellock to the new position of UK Channel Manager, responsible for the growth and development of key strategic partnerships within the UK telecoms reseller industry. James joins Cellhire reporting into the UK Managing Director Matt Bennett.

With 10 years’ extensive experience in the UK telecoms reseller industry, James has previously held similar roles at Vodafone and O2, where he focussed on the management and growth of key reseller partner relationships. As UK Channel Manager, James will help build company identity, market new products and support the overall journey for the Cellhire channel customer base.

On joining Cellhire, James said “I am looking forward to increasing Cellhire’s existing partner base to cement the position the company already has as a key provider to the channel.

“With its industry leading billing engine, bespoke tariff capabilities and wide range of offerings on Vodafone, O2 and EE, Cellhire has a unique proposition that enables resellers to have direct ownership of the customer. None of our competitors have a proposition like it.

“As a direct wholesale partner for the top three UK MNOs, we are strongly positioned to offer competitive, flexible solutions. Cellhire’s capabilities, including the billing engine and bespoke tariffs on all three of these MNOs, exceed industry expectations in the reseller channel and I’m looking forward to leveraging them to strengthen our service, with an additional focus on competitive pricing to help them compete. Cellhire also has an exceptional partner portal, which employs API access to give partners full management and cost control.

“I’ve hit the ground running to implement a number of projects and create new propositions that will complement our already strong portfolio.”

Matt Bennett, the UK Managing Director at Cellhire said “James’ background in telecom partnerships will be a real aid when reaching out to new potential partners. His appointment is a fantastic complement to our existing bespoke international solutions, where we have established expert status, particularly in flexible data offers. Cellhire is dedicated to the services it provides and the addition of James demonstrates further the lengths Cellhire will go to attract the right reseller partner.

“Cellhire would like to extend a warm welcome to James, and looks forward to working with him as he focuses on continually growing and improving reseller partnerships and existing reseller services and offerings.”

About Cellhire

Cellhire, a leading global service provider of mobile communications, offers an easy way for businesses to stay connected when travelling around the world.

Established in 1987, the Group has offices in the UK, USA, France, Germany, Switzerland and Japan. Partnering with network operators globally, Cellhire provides short and long term mobile communication services to leading companies worldwide.

The company is committed to delivering the highest standards of customer service which is underlined by its continued attainment of ISO 9001:2015, the internationally recognised quality standard. Cellhire is Investors in People (IIP) certified and won the highly coveted Queen’s Award for International Enterprise, as a result of its success as a specialist in the delivery of mobile communication solutions for events around the world.

Japan is set to host two of the biggest sporting events in the world over the next couple of years; the Rugby World Cup is fast approaching in September and the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics is closely behind. These events are set to be huge for Japan, expecting to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors and many more watching from across the world. The last Olympic Games attracted over 3.6 billion viewers worldwide, and the sheer sense of patriotism that comes accompanied with the games, is only expected to grow from each competing country.

This will be the first time Asia has hosted the Rugby World Cup tournament and Japan hasn’t hosted the Olympics since the 1998 Winter Games. Expecting huge numbers, Cellhire is ready and waiting for the excess of visitors, thanks to its Japanese office, which is preparing to provide visitors with local, in-country mobile connectivity whilst in Japan, in the forms of airtime, devices, SIMs and mobile hotspots.

Cellhire already has an excellent global track record in the sports and entertainment fields, proven by having provided tens of thousands of connections at major events through the close relationships with network providers around the world.

Experts in the field of worldwide connectivity, Cellhire is also an expert in the Japan region, having provided thousands of non-event business and consumer products and solutions since its opening nearly 15 years ago.

Similarly to previous worldwide events, Cellhire has teamed up with local networks to offer attendees unparalleled, fast and outstanding coverage across the whole of Japan, including host venues and the travel between them. As the latest addition to the over 50 network partnerships Cellhire already maintains, local networks NTT DOCOMO and SoftBank are set to offer inclusive rates for both data crunchers and voice users.

With only a few months to go until the Rugby World Cup begins, event organisers warn demand for official travel and hospitality packages is already exceeding expectations. Cellhire advises fans to plan ahead and save on voice and data costs when in Japan by ordering prior to travel.

With offices in the UK, USA, France, Germany, Switzerland and Japan, attendees, including TV and radio broadcasters, from all over the world can receive SIM cards, smartphones, mobile hotspots and other value-added telecoms and services ahead of time. The Japan office is also on hand, post departure, with local, on-ground support throughout the events, next day delivery in parts of Japan and online support, which will guarantee excellent customer response times and help minimise potential “bill-shock”.

Cellhire is a leading mobile telecoms supplier at global events and has previously provided connectivity to its clients at events including the FIFA World Cup, Wimbledon, Tour de France, the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, the Paralympics and the UEFA Euro Finals.

In wake of recent months and controversies surrounding privacy breaches abroad, those with planned trips to places such as China are rightly slightly hesitant. On January 3rd 2019, the US State Department issued a Level 2 Travel Advisory for traveling to China. This means those entering China should Exercise Increased Caution, due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws.

In exercising increased caution, travelers should extend diligence to the use of mobile and tech devices when entering the country. Cellhire previously published a blog on Why Phone Security Matters Abroad, but the rumor-mill has suggested those travelling to China are highly at risk of being monitored. Here are precautions you should be taking to avoid potential risks.

Leave your devices at home

There have been stories of devices being confiscated and tampered with while going through customs in a range of countries, but if you’re worried about possible infringement on your privacy and data, it may be a better option to leave your devices at home. Understandably, this may be easier for those travelling to China for leisure rather than for business. Business travelers partaking in business events and meetings in China are in need of a device to some extent so have no choice other than to take something with them. In this case, don’t worry, there are other precautions to take.

Prepare your devices for travel

If you’re taking devices to China, make sure you’ve ‘prepared’ them. Remember your devices contain valuable data, information and in some case, intellectual property. The last thing you want is spying eyes getting a hold of your information. When traveling, all this stored data becomes vulnerable, so ‘preparing’ your device for the worst is imperative. Update the operating system to the latest version; this will help fill in those potential security gaps that could be hacked. Also, ensure your Bluetooth is turned off whilst travelling. This, again, eliminates possible eavesdropping entries.

Lastly, and maybe most importantly, safeguard your devices with a complex password / PIN that can’t be easily guessed or hacked. For extra protection, put a 2-factor authentication on anything that lets you.

Cleanse your devices

If adding a password to your devices isn’t enough to put you at ease, try cleansing your device of all unnecessary data you don’t need while traveling. Move all your data over to an external source that you can leave at home while you travel. It’s better to always travel with a ‘blank’ device, so there is nothing to lose once you enter China. You should also cleanse and wipe your device upon re-entering your home country, in case any of your devices have been compromised while out of the country.

Use a rented device / SIM

The best solution for those traveling to a country in which they need to exercise caution, is to travel with a rented device / SIM. If you’re hesitant to take your own device out of fear or losing your data, take a device that is blank and will allow peace of mind. Get a device that is already set up to work in-country, with a local SIM card. This will not only keep your personal device safe, but will also allow you to browse online, call and text for the best possible rate. If this is something you opt for, purchase these before traveling. If you purchase a device in the country you travel to, like the airport, not only are you risking having an already compromised device / SIM, but you are also likely to spend more than it’s worth. As an alternative, Cellhire can offer both in country SIMs and devices depending on your needs and requirements. Cellhire was the recommended alternative to taking personal devices on a recent segment of Bloomberg’s Daybreak Asia, as advised by the VP of Park Strategies.

Use a VPN

It’s well known that some countries block access to specific sites; China especially. Say goodbye to Gmail, YouTube, Twitter, Wikipedia etc, because it’s likely you won’t be able to access them. To avoid this, you can use a VPN to create your own private internet connection that only you can access. This is definitely a must if you’re away for business and need to access your company information or intranet, especially as China is renowned for controversies surrounding monitoring internet traffic and blocking.

Be warned however, as of 2018, China is cracking down on the use of VPNs. Those who wish to use a VPN should look at several options, in case their primary option is blocked. TechRadar has recently produced a helpful article reviewing the top VPNs to use when traveling to China.

November 19th 2018. York, UK. York based global telecommunications provider Cellhire, says a grateful goodbye to York Business Week; having been finalists in The Press Business Awards for Exporter of the Year and seeing its position in York’s Top 100 Businesses increase to 14th from 65th in 2017.

Cellhire CEO, Martyn Stevens

Seeing an increase of 51 positions, Cellhire celebrates being one of the highest climbers on the York Top 100 Businesses list, having improved from 65th in the inaugural list, to 14th. Focussed on showcasing York’s business diversity and judged on key performance factors such as turnover, profit, growth and employee numbers, the 2018 Top 100 Businesses in York is the second edition of the list and came out as part of York’s annual Business Week; during which, saw Cellhire as a finalist of Exporter of the Year in the York Press Business Awards.

Cellhire can thank its position growth on recent success at sporting events such as the Winter Olympics, the FIFA World Cup and long-term corporate business deals. An increase in employee numbers has also seen Cellhire grow within the York community and become a key contributor to York’s business landscape.

Exporter of the Year Finalist

Cellhire is Exporter of the Year Finalist

Entering the Awards for the first time in 2018, Cellhire was extremely proud to be announced as a finalist in the category Exporter of the Year, and attended The Press Business Awards Ceremony at York Racecourse on 15th November.

Although just missing out on the award, Cellhire CEO Martyn Stevens said “It’s really nice to be recognised in our home town of York. We export to businesses all over the world and currently 60% of our revenues are generated overseas. Being a part of York Business Week and seeing how successful we have been during it, really demonstrates our dedication to the services we provide and to York itself”.

With hundreds of applicants entering the awards categories, the judges stated the standard of entries from across York was exceptionally high throughout all ten categories; making it a real success for businesses to have made the shortlist alone. For this reason, Cellhire is thrilled to have been a finalist, and is proud to see so many businesses getting involved.

Cellhire also took part in many other events for York Business Week including attending the Business Conference at York Racecourse where representatives met with key partners and business leaders.

About Cellhire

Founded in York in 1987, Cellhire is a specialist global service provider. The company’s success is built on providing the very best mobile solutions available anywhere and the company prides itself on being easy to do business with. Cellhire is a leading supplier to organisers, businesses and attendees during events such as the Olympics, Paralympics and Winter Olympics, FIFA World Cups, UEFA Euro Finals, the Tour de France, Wimbledon and Cannes Film Festival.

In 2005, Cellhire won the Queen’s Award for International Enterprise as a result of its success as a specialist in the delivery of communications solutions for events around the world. The company’s commitment to delivering the highest standards of customer service is underlined by its continued attainment of ISO 9001:2015, the internationally recognised quality standard. Cellhire has service agreements with more than 100 ensuring coverage is truly global. More at cellhire.info.

When leaving the country to travel abroad, everyone knows they need their passport. However, what is the next essential thing you make sure you have with you? Your smartphone probably. In the world of connectivity, instant messaging and sharing, you use your smartphone as an extension of yourself. It contains all the resources to stay connected to everyone, your personal details, your photos… and probably a lot of other sensitive information. When abroad, your smartphone becomes the ultimate travel companion; your navigator, your translator, your currency convertor.

However, how do you protect your phone when travelling abroad and why is it so important? Your phone is probably the single most valuable device you carry around; that could lead to a whole load of trouble if anything on it, including the device itself, fell into the wrong hands. Yet without leaving your device at home, which definitely sounds counterintuitive, what can be done to protect your data while you travel? Below are some of the ways you can protect your phone security abroad.

Leave Your Phone at Home

Don’t do this really, we know you don’t want to, and with so many other good alternatives that will keep you secure, you really don’t need to.

Don’t Trust WiFi

Avoid free and public WiFi no matter the cost. WiFi in public spaces, restaurants and hotels are easy prey for anyone lurking waiting for naïve travelers to connect to. Potential network hackers could easily obtain your data if you’re not careful; this could be anything from monitoring your activity to stealing personal data that could lead to identity theft. To ensure your WiFi connection is safe and secure, get yourself a portable MiFi device.

Use a VPN

As stated above, anyone on the same network as you, potentially a few hundred if you’re using public/ free WiFi, has the ability to intercept and grab your unencrypted data. To eliminate the risk of this, you can use a VPN. A virtual private network will protect you against hackers as it acts as your own personal shield – giving you a connection that only you have access to. It’s essentially your own private tunnel, away from the streams of others.

To use a VPN, you will need to download and install a VPN app onto your device, start it up once you’re connected to the internet and then choose a server. Although you will need to be connected to the internet (whether this be public or free), a VPN puts a protective shield around you and your data. Your data becomes encrypted, avoiding all the risks of open WiFi. Additionally, a VPN can also be helpful if you’re travelling to countries that may have blocked internet access. A VPN can change your IP address and allow access to sites such a Netflix.

Switch SIM Cards

Opting to switch out your SIM will protect some of your data in the unfortunate case of theft or loss. Internal storage is safe if you back up your device before travelling, but we’ll get to this in a minute. Choosing to get another SIM, probably a local in-country SIM will give you a temporary phone number but the benefits speak for themselves; it protects your data, gets you cheaper call and roaming rates in-country and you could get one on a pay as you go basis. You also have choice, you could opt for a data only SIM or a voice only SIM, depending on what you need. You could also get a SIM card that works in a number of countries, one that can quickly change network providers so you always get the best possible connection. Doing this of course, will also avoid using un-trusted public WiFi.

Turn Off Roaming

Disabling your data roaming abroad will limit your data usage and may ease you while travelling; knowing that you won’t return home to a steep bill. From 2017, EU citizens can roam for no additional charges while in Europe, so if this is applies to you, you are safe to leave roaming on.

What is Roaming?

While abroad, your home network provider can’t travel with you, instead your connection will be run by a different, local, network operator. Partnering providers, your home operator, and the operator your device switches to abroad, will charge each other to cover the cost of ‘traffic’ for them having to support you. This will incur your home operator charging you this cost.

Back Everything Up Beforehand

Often an oversight to many travelers, make sure you back up your device prior to travelling. This is in case your phone does go missing, you can quickly restore a new, replacement device with all your stored details on. For example, you can restore from iCloud on an iPhone if needs be.

As a sub-point, make sure your device is running the latest software. Software updates usually include security enhancements and bug fixes, this will help reduce the chance of your connection being hacked. Also, give your device a passcode, preferably a long one; it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Take Action Against Theft & Loss

For all the power that phones bring us; connecting us to the world, keeping us productive, taking pictures etc, it’s often overlooked that they are small handheld devices. Easily misplaced or dropped or, worse case scenario; stolen. We’ve all been there when we go to grab our pockets and experience the ghost feeling if our phone is missing. This experience is only heightened when you travel, and for good reason, you’re in new atmosphere where you don’t know the place or the people.

Tell your Network Provider

The first thing to do if you’re phone goes walkabout is to call / text it. If it has just been lost, you might be lucky and find a kind stranger has found it. If this has happened then, voila you can get it back. If the persistent calling and texting doesn’t work, tell your network provider. They can then block your phone so you don’t risk paying for any unauthorized usage while it’s been out of your hands. They might ask you for your device’s identification number (IMEI) so they can track it, so make sure you take a note of it!

Track and Wipe Your Phone

After notifying your network provider and they’ve said they will block your SIM, it might be wise to remotely track and wipe your phone. Both Apple and Android give you the option to ‘Find My Phone’. If the phone is on, you will be able to see the exact location where your phone is. Unfortunately, if your phone is turned off, this won’t be available. On the latest iOS update for Apple users, there is an option to activate ‘Lost Mode’ through Find My iPhone, this feature will remotely lock your device. At a final resort, you should remotely wipe your device. You will be able to restore a replacement device up to your last back up.

Change Your Passwords

Lastly, just for extra protection, change your passwords on important sites such as email, banking, and other apps, just for extra protection in case someone has been able to access your phone.

York based global telecommunications provider Cellhire, is proud to announce that it has been shortlisted for the York Press Business Awards in the category ‘Exporter of the Year’. This is the first year Cellhire has entered the awards, and will be attending the regional awards ceremony on Thursday 15th November at a black tie event at York Racecourse.

Celebrating businesses from all sectors across Yorkshire, the awards recognise the entrepreneurial success of businesses in various best practice. This years’ awards mark the 28th year of celebrating York businesses and saw more than 100 entries from a range of businesses; with three businesses being shortlisted for each category.

The annual event is hosted at York Racecourse by York Press and is sponsored by TalkTalk’s Ultra Fibre Optic project in York.

Having achieved great success in recent years, providing mobile connectivity to travellers to events such as the FIFA World Cup, the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and the Rio Olympics, Cellhire is shortlisted for ‘Exporter of the Year’. The category celebrates businesses with the ability to spot opportunities in new markets, how it has been exporting to develop and grow business in York, how the business has over obstacles to enter new markets and the potential for further global reach. Cellhire has been recognised for its exports in UK airtime to global countries needing cost-effective voice and data solutions whilst travelling abroad.

About Cellhire

Founded in York in 1987, Cellhire is a specialist global service provider. The company’s success is built on providing the very best mobile solutions available anywhere and the company prides itself on being easy to do business with. Cellhire is a leading supplier to organisers, businesses and attendees during events such as the Olympics, Paralympics and Winter Olympics, FIFA World Cups, UEFA Euro Finals, the Tour de France, Wimbledon and Cannes Film Festival.

In 2005 Cellhire won the Queen’s Award for International Enterprise as a result of its success as a specialist in the delivery of communications solutions for events around the world. The company’s commitment to delivering the highest standards of customer service is underlined by its continued attainment of ISO 9001:2015, the internationally recognised quality standard. Cellhire has service agreements with more than 50 network partners in more than 40 countries, ensuring coverage is truly global. More at cellhire.info.

With the invention of the Apple Wallet, you need to remember one less essential item when you leave the house; pay in-store and online using your phone for a faster, more convenient check out. First things first you’ve got to successfully get your cards into the wallet to get started! We’ve got you covered with a completely fool proof step-by-step guide to help you get it right first time….

For iPad, iPod and of course, iPhone here’s what to do:

Open up the Wallet app

Tap + or Add Credit or Debit Card

Tap Continue to progress and add your card

Hold your card in front of you device’s camera so it fills the white box. Ensure you hold them still and have good lighting for the most effective results.

Double check the card number and name entered are correct and tap Next

Enter your card’s Expiry Date and CVC number (three digit number on the back of your card)

Read and the tap Agree to the Terms & Conditions

Tap Next. Now your bank or card issuer will verify your information and decide if you can use your card with Apple Pay. If your bank or issuer needs more information to verify your card, they’ll ask you for it. When you have the information, go back to Wallet and tap your card. This security check is another way of protecting you against fraudulent activity.

Pick your verification method and either tap Text Message or E-mail to receive a confirmation code.

Wait…

Enter the six digit verification code (which will expire in 30 mins)

Click Done

Go into Settings and scroll down to Wallet & Apple Pay (it should be underneath iCloud and iTunes & App store)

Make any changes you want:

Allow Touch ID for payments

Allow Access When Locked by tapping Double-Click Home Button to green

Add new cards or allow Payments on Mac

Altering the Default Card, shipping address, email and phone number

Et voila! You are now able to used Apple Pay!

You can also activate Apple Pay on your WATCH or Mac!

WATCH:

Open up the Apple WATCH App on your iPhone

Go on My Watch tab and Select the watch you want (if you own multiple)